Speed garage (occasionally known as plus-8[ DJ magazine, 1996–97, " Raggage": "...earning the scene the slightly mocked nick-names of 'plus-8' or 'speed garage'."]) is a genre of electronic dance music, associated with the UK garage scene, of which it is regarded as one of its subgenres.[ History of Speed garage: "There are many different forms of garage music, most of these were of little interest to UK hard dance fans until the latest mutation came along, speed garage."]
Characteristics
Speed garage features sped-up NY garage 4-to-the-floor
that are combined with
.
[ History of Speed garage: "Speed garage can be broadly defined as a mixture of slightly sped up garage beats..."] Snares are placed as over the 2nd and the 4th
, so in other places of the drum pattern.
[ 2Step: "In the original 1997 speed garage, the snares are fussy and clattering over the stomping 4-to-the-floor kickdrum."] Speed garage tunes have warped, heavy
, influenced by
Oldschool jungle[ History of Speed garage: "Speed garage can be broadly defined as a mixture of slightly sped up garage beats with a heavy almost junglistic bassline"] and
reggae.
[(2004) "Popular Music Genres: An Introduction", , , p.216: "Speed garage basslines were drawn from Jamaican reggae..."] Sweeping bass is typical for speed garage.
[(2004) "The Dance Music Manual", , , p.157: "The sweeping bass is typical of UK garage and speed garage tracks and consists of a tight yet deep bass that sweeps in pitch and/or frequencies"] It is also typical for speed garage tunes to have a breakdown.
[ History of Speed garage: "Speed garage can be broadly defined as a mixture of slightly sped up garage beats ..., and usually with a break in the middle where the beat is stripped down and then builds up for a long period of time."] Speed garage tunes sometimes featured time-stretched vocals.
[ History of Speed garage: "Speed garage can be broadly defined as a mixture of slightly sped up garage beats ..., sometimes with timestretched vocals"] As it is heavily influenced by
Jungle music, speed garage makes heavy use of jungle and dub sound effects, such as gunshots and sirens.
[(2004) "Popular Music Genres: An Introduction", , , p.216: "Jungle and ragga-style sound effects, such as the rash of gun shot volleys heard on popular speed garage tracks,..."][(2004) "Popular Music Genres: An Introduction", , , p.216: "Overall, two-step .., less relied on the dub sound effects ... of speed garage"]
A widely regarded pioneer of the speed garage sound is record producer, Disc jockey and Armand van Helden, whose Dark Garage remix of the Sneaker Pimps' "Spin Spin Sugar" in 1996 helped bring the style of speed garage into the mainstream arena.
Resurgence in the 2020s
In the early 2020s, speed garage experienced a notable resurgence within the UK music scene. This revival was marked by a renewed interest in the genre's distinctive basslines and energetic rhythms, leading to a fresh wave of productions and chart successes.
A pivotal moment in this revival was the release of "B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All)" by Interplanetary Criminal and Eliza Rose in the summer of 2022. The track, featuring a Korg M1 organ bassline characteristic of speed garage, achieved the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart, underscoring the genre's renewed popularity.
Interplanetary Criminal, a Manchester-based producer, has been instrumental in this resurgence. His work blends traditional speed garage elements with contemporary sounds, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners. In April 2020, he released "Pride (Speed Garage Mix)", which showcased his commitment to revitalising the genre.
Collaborations have also played a significant role in the genre's revival. In November 2024, Interplanetary Criminal teamed up with Sammy Virji to release "Damager", a track that fuses speed garage with donk influences, further highlighting the genre's evolving sound.
This renewed interest in speed garage has been accompanied by a broader UK garage revival, with artists and producers drawing inspiration from the genre's classic sounds while infusing them with modern production techniques. The resurgence has been evident in clubs, festivals, and charts, indicating a vibrant and enduring appreciation for speed garage in contemporary music culture.
Notable songs/remixes
The following is a list of notable songs and official remixes which not only
Record chart but were popular within the speed garage scene:
-
"Let's Groove" (1993) – George Morel
-
"Dancing for Heaven" (1995) / "Saved My Life" (1996) – Todd Edwards
-
"Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand's Drum 'n' Bass Mix)" (1996) / "Spin Spin Sugar (Armand's Dark Garage Mix)"
-
"Gunman" (1997) / "Kung-Fu" (1998) – 187 Lockdown
-
"Deeper" (1997) / "God Is a DJ (Serious Danger Remix)" (1998) – Serious Danger
-
"Hype Funk (Dub)" (1997) – Reach & Spin
-
"RipGroove" (1997) – Double 99
-
"Vol. 1 (What You Want What You Need)" (1997) – Industry Standard
-
"I Refuse (What You Want)" (1997) – Somore featuring Damon Trueitt
-
"Oh Boy" (1997) – The Fabulous Baker Boys
-
"A London Thing" (1997) – Scott Garcia
-
"Something Goin' On (Loop Da Loop Uptown / Downtown Mix)" (1997) – Loop Da Loop
-
"Ripped in 2 Minutes" (1998) – A vs B
-
"Superstylin'" (2001) – Groove Armada
External links
